Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-02-10
MUTES OF ALASKA.
A STURDY PEOPLE WHO DWELL
NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. .

tOInS-ROWerB
Marital Arrangemsnts-Belief in Evil
Spirits-curious superstitions.
In previously published works this race
has been denominatsd as the word 'In-
mutt - This nomenclature arose from the
Incompetence of the interpreters. I'm
mutt means ''me1," being the plural OF
innuk, imam" These people have no
name as race, but designate themselves
''Mutes, which literally translated, means
''a dweller at or upon For instance,
native born at the village on Point Hope
Tigerach) is Tigerach Mute; one born at
Point Barrow is a Noo-wuk Mute, and so
on, deriving their classification from the
place of nativity. This is somewhat similar
to our custom of saying a New Yorker,
native Of the Empire City, San Francis
can or a Bostonian.
The popular idea prevails that these peo-
pie resemble those living on the eastern
shores of the Arctic ocean and Greenland,
but while on the Greenland side the stature
of the natives i small, upon the Alaskan
side numerous measurements taken by me
of both sexes show an average height in the
males of five feet eight inches and in the
females of five feet four inches. There are
many men, and women, too, especially at
fOlnI 6arTOW anu O4IO bAae LhOdSHie
nearly six feet, and all well propOrtioned.
In their facial characteristics these people
partake of the Mongolian type. Examina-
ton of skulls and living persons show the
high. prominent cheek bones, the oblique
shaped eye setting, the elongated nostrils,
and straight. coarse, black hair of the Ash
attic race. By reason of their hardy life
their limbs are Of strong mold. The only
malformation that l observed among them
was a tendency in the knees and feet to bend
inward More especially is this to be no
ticed in the women, a circumstance L attrlb-
ute to their carrying heavy weights upon
the lower portion Of the spine, while the
uneven surface of the ground forbids walk
ing in any level manner. Another reason
for this malformation is the length of time
these people are confined to their boats
when travelling along the coast Through
out the entire territory of Alaska and the
Aleutian islands it is very rare to see ma
tive of either sex, exhibiting perfect up
right carriage The Aleuts at the Seal
islands and Oonalaska, both males and fe-
males. resemble in their walk the waddle Of
duck.
Physically, these Mutes are very strong,
their powers Of endurance are great, and,
as q sequence to the sole aim Of their exist
ence, l. e., to obtain food, their powers Of
observation and acuteness in hunting, both
on land and sea, are strongly developed.
Were it not for the thick layers of dirt
covering their skin the complexion of these
peoples would be almost white. Until old
age comes on their teeth are well shaped
and sound; their eyes of a deep brown hue,
bright and sparkling and extremely express
sive. Many cases of marked good looks can
be seen among them, while intelligent and
pleasing manners are general characters
tics. The family relations existing between
these people are somewhat difficult to deter
mine. This arises from the fact that when
q man takes a wife he may retain her as
long as he pleases or she may leave him
and obtain another protector. Instances
where the woman never leaves her first
protector are rare.
While the mother is always the first to be
consulted before any marital arrangements
are entered upon, journey undertaken, or
trading engaged in, the fathers final as
sent is the one to be obtained. But living
as these Mutes do in community, each ones
affairs become his neighbours, and every one
has something to say in another's affairs.
Garrulity is a prominent trait among the
women, who are quite on par with their
civilized sisters in retailing gossip and scan
dal When a man desires to become pos
sessed of a girl to share his fortunes, over
lures are made to her parents and herself.
Should acquiescence be obtained, presents
of skins and food are made to the girl S pa
rents and she becomes his spouse Such emo
tions as love, tenderness, or endearment are
unknown, the woman is simply regarded as
a worker to sew and cook and bear chill
dren. Unless she by force of character OBJ
tains some influence over the man, her lot is
anything but enviable. Upon the least fit OF
anger upon his part cuffs, blows and kicks
are showered upon her, but these do not
create much astonishment in the village,
simply forming a theme of gossip among
| the old women.
A belief in the presence of evil spirits con-
stitutes the only religious ideas among the
Mutes. There are among them individuals
| called toonrachs, corresponding to the
shaman of the Siberian tribes. II person
is sick before the whaling season COM
mences, or a child is born before going on
| a Journey or building a house, the services
of the shaman is called in requisition. The
| modus operandi in every case is very SINH
lar The shaman, after a long spell of
silence, suddenly begins to roll his eyes, con-
| yulsiye shakes pervade his frame, and he
| gives utterance to various groans and Sighs
intermingled with sentences pertaining to the
subject upon which he is engaged. During
| the time Of his performance a continuous
beating upon drum is kept up. Toward
the end paroxysms, or rather convulsions OF
exaltation similar to what have been de-
scribed as prevailing at the finale Of Shak-
er meeting, are exhibited by the shaman.
Froth exudes from his mouth, his eyes glare
and roll, and his whole frame is contorted.
Perspiration pours from his face, and he Is
entirely exhausted The loud invocations
to the evil spirits to vacate the body of the
sick person, or TO drive them away from
the sea to enable the whales or seals to ar
rive, beoms gradually subdued, dying away
into incoherent mutterings. Then after q
while he regains his composure, compla-
Gently smokes his pipe, and receives his pay
for services performed II the operation is
performed over sick person and recovery
does not ensue the payment made is re-
turned, a custom that might be advan'
tageously adopted among civilized persons
Some curious superstitions are also to be
noted. II a person is sick, iron tools, such
as axes or knives cannot be used in the
house. Upon a mans grave his sled i:
placed, but broken to pieces, and his kyacs
meets similar usage. Furs, spears and
rifles are also deposited, while, if the indi
vidual has killed many whales, the long jaw
bones Of tho balaena are placed in an up
right position to mark the spot These peo
pie bury their dead upon the ground, rails
ing number of pieces Of driftwood in tht
shape Of q tent over the remains. Owing
to this insecure mode Of burial, the wooC
soon falls down and affords entrance Il
foxs and dogs, who make havoc with tn
body. But little regard is paid to the bur
ial places, although these Mutes are yer!
much incensed whenever attempts are mad
to take away any skulls or bones from tn
graveyards. They also make long detou
in passing the resting place of the dead
and will on no account touch anything
once deposited at burial--Cor. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
Sinuous Sayings About the Sleeper.
A sleeper is one who sleeps. sleeper i
that in which the sleeper sleeps. sleepe
is that on which the sleeper which carrie
Il TI,Ar-A